Welcome!
Below you will find a template for leading an Antioch Discipleship Group.
The format for our groups is simple for the sake of reproducibility.
Please do your best to stick to guidelines below.

Create a sense of warmth and love through your words, facial expressions, and body language. As you open, take a moment to pray, acknowledging Jesus’ presence and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak, guide, and move among you. Afterwards, wait a couple minutes in silence to attune to His presence.

Use this crafted prayer:
"Jesus we are here to encounter you, and grow as your disciples. We invite you to speak, guide and move among us as we attune our hearts to yours."

Listening, empathy, and question asking allows us to listen to God and love others through them feeling known. Allow each person to briefly share how they are coming in to the meeting. Encourage them to share about the current condition of their heart, rather than a general report their life's events or circumstances. After each person shares, ask clarifying questions or offer empathic statements to the sharer. The group participants do not give feedback, share their own stories, or give advice during this time. Remind the sharer that in this space, they are practicing vulnerability and confession.  Remind the listeners that they are practicing compassion and hearing the Lord on behalf of the sharer.  

Use one of these prompts:
"How are you coming in today?"  
"What’s the condition of your soul right now?"
"What’s been bringing you life lately, and what’s been draining you?"
"How have you been being with Jesus, becoming more like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did, in community?

This is where we model our dependence on God and need for His grace. Initiate the prayer time by inviting the group to return to a posture of reflective silence for two minutes to bring attention to the promptings of the Spirit and the presence of God. After the time of silence, encourage the group to begin praying and sharing any images, scriptures, or words of encouragement that God brings to mind.

Use these prompts:
"Now lets spend some time waiting on the Lord on behalf of each other. As we return to a posture of reflective silence for two minutes, be aware of anything that the Holy Spirit is saying."
"Jesus, thank you for your presence, inhabit our prayers as we now share what you are speaking."

You may also discern that specific prayer ministry is needed and choose to use healing prayer or intercessory prayer during this time. 

This space is essential, it's where we practically partner with one another in our apprenticeship to Jesus. The purpose of this time is to bring our lives into greater alignment with Jesus. Based on what was shared in the listening portion of the meeting, or from what you know about the people in your group, choose one of the following tools and practice it with your group.

• Discovery Bible Study
• Listening & Talking to God Practices

After you practice it, challenge them to use this practice regularly, and possibly practice it with someone else before your next meeting.

Additionally, you can use this time to help your group develop and be accountable to a VIM Plan and Rule Of Life.

End your time together in prayer, inviting God to fill your community with His Spirit, uniting you as you live out being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did—together!